Improved car-coupling



W. L. BRADDOCK.

. 'Car Coupling.

No. 88,440.- Patented March 30,1869.

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N. PETERS, Phuio-Lflhogmphen Washington, D. c.

i Waitedfittest gaunt QM saa-s WARREN L. BRADDOCK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND C. H. MINOR, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 88,440, dated March 30, 1869;

IMPROVED CAR-COUPLING.

To all whom it concern Be it known that I, WARREN L. BRADDOCK, of Boston, in the county of Sufl'olk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and improved Oar-Coupling; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making a part of the specification, in which- Figure 1 represents-a longitudiiial sectional view of a coupling embodying my improvement.

Figure 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the opposite coupling, with the link attached.

Figure 3 is a front view of a coupling.

Figure 4 is aside elevation of the same, attached to the platform of-the car.

Figure 5 is a plan view of fig. 4, looked upon from below.

Figure 6 shows a modification of fig. 4, and is also represented in fig. 1.

The object of my invention is to produce a coupling forgcars, in which the link can be'guided into the jaw of the opposite coupling, without endangering the at tendant; further, to adjust the couplings, and make them conform to cars of difl'erent. heights; and finally, to make tl1em-self'-locking,when the link is pushed into them; all the operations to be performed either from the platform above the coupling, or from any other con venient place, without the necessity of the attendant stepping between the cars which are to be coupled; and

My invention consists in raising the link by means of a vibrating plate, within each of the couplings, in such a position as, to cause it to enter the opposite aw.

Furthen-iususpending the coupling to the car by means of a sliding axle, cushioned on either side by rubber springs, and by raising and dropping the coupling thus pivoted within a limited distance, thus connecting cars whose couplings are not-on a level.

Further, in the combined raising of links and couplings, allowinga diiference' between the axes of two couplings to be of twelve inches, or as much as will be required in any case.

My invention consists also in the construction of a lever, pivoted underneath and to the coupling, one arm of which is curved, and within the coupling, and stopping the bolt from dropping, when the link is removed, the other arm forming a weight, with the 0bjcct of throwing the curved armforward, while the entering link forces the curved arm back, until the bolt drops, and thus locks the couplings together.

Referring to the drawings- Aisa platform of a car.

B, the jaw of a coupling.

0, the elongation, forming a slot, through which passes the axle D, attached to project-ions E E, of a platform A.

r r are rubber cushions, for counteracting the jarring and concussions consequent to the attaching and moving of the cars. While the axle D will keep its position in the projections E E, the coupling 0 is allowed to vibrate in longitudinal direction.

At the smallest section and lower portion of the jaw of the coupling B, is the plate a, attached to pin 1), at the end of which, outside the coupling or the car, as the case may be, is the crank, or arm 0.

' The link F is held by pin gpassing behind plate a, and supported by the upper portion of the jaw, in such a manner that when the crank c is turned toward the platform of the car, the plate a, is moved upward from the lower side of the jaw, carrying with it the link F.

A double lever, pivoted at d, to the coupling, projects with the upper and curved arm f, into the coupling, while the arm e is thickened, so that the preponderance in weight over that of the curved arm 1; throws the latter forward, and thus prevents the lifted bolt g from dropping through the jaw, when the link isremoved.

When the carsare to be shackled together, the link F being already attached to one of the cars, enters the opposite coupling, pushes back the arm f, and thus allows the pin 9 to drop and Holdthe link.

Near the front of platform A, (see fig. 2,) the elongated coupling 0 is encircled by a stirrup, h, the lower portiong' of which is eccentric, and held by a spindle to the projections E E, of platform A.

To one end of said spindle is attached a double chain wheel, 5 i, which, by means of corresponding chainwheels 70 It, on vertical shaft 1, and hand-wheel m, re.- ceives a rotating motion.

The eccentric, or cam g being in contact with coupling G, raises and lowers the latter to the extent of its eccentricity, which may bethr'ee inches, or any other suitable distance. By this means the coupling B is raised and lowered, so as to meet the opposite one, in case the latter should be on a difi'ercnt level.

Fig. 6 shows a modification for elevating the coupling B, by means of inclines tt, lever 8, attached to platform A, and oscillating on pin 2:, link q, and handlever 1). The stirrup c is attached to rod tit, and the forward or backward motion of the rod t t t effects the raising and lowering of the stirrup c, and with it the coupling B.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I. claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The coupling B, with lever f 0, plate a, crank 0, link F, axle D, cushions M", stirrup h, cam g, chain-wheels M, h It, and shaft Z, in the manner and for the purpose above specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WARREN L. BRADDOGK.

Witnesses:

Cannon D. WRIGHT, ARTHUR ON EAL. 

